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- LIV Golf Considers Chapter 11 Filing as HUMAIN Partners With Applied Intuition on Autonomous Trucking and Qatar Event Show 2026 Officially Kicks Off Today
LIV Golf Considers Chapter 11 Filing as HUMAIN Partners With Applied Intuition on Autonomous Trucking and Qatar Event Show 2026 Officially Kicks Off Today
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Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Happy Wednesday everyone!
Professional sports restructuring, autonomous vehicle logistics, and trade exhibition launches are shaping regional business headlines. Saudi-backed LIV Golf may file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as soon as next week as the Public Investment Fund (PIF) scales back direct funding after investing over $5 billion. In technology markets, Saudi AI firm HUMAIN partnered with $15 billion US autonomous software developer Applied Intuition to deploy driverless trucks across Saudi logistics corridors by 2030. Meanwhile, event management leaders officially kicked off yesterday in Doha for the Qatar Event Show 2026, held from 1 to 3 September 2026 at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Center (DECC).
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LIV Golf Weighs Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Restructuring as PIF Ends Direct Capital Funding
🔹 What Is It About
Professional golf league LIV Golf is preparing for a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing as soon as next week as part of an operational restructuring. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which invested more than $5 billion to launch the circuit, plans to conclude direct funding after the current season. To support the transition, PIF is expected to provide under $100 million in debtor-in-possession financing while private equity firm BC Partners considers investing up to $300 million to acquire assets and back a restructured 10-tournament schedule.
Providing Transition Capital: PIF is expected to extend under $100 million in debtor-in-possession financing during court proceedings.
Attracting Private Equity: BC Partners is evaluating a $300 million investment to acquire league assets and finance future operations.
Trimming Tournament Schedules: Proposed restructuring plans would transition the circuit into a 10-event global series with player equity participation.
🔹 Why It Matters
Reorganizing under bankruptcy protection allows LIV Golf to restructure high-cost player contracts and transition into an independent commercial entity. Moving away from total reliance on sovereign wealth capital tests whether alternative professional sports leagues can build self-sustaining revenue models through private equity and corporate sponsorships. Restructuring tournament schedules helps reduce operational expenses while preserving core broadcasting rights across international markets.
🔹 What’s Next
LIV Golf legal representatives will submit court filings if debt-restructuring negotiations with current creditors reach final agreements. BC Partners managers will complete due diligence reviews before committing primary capital to the new circuit structure.
Filing Restructuring Petitions: Corporate attorneys will submit Chapter 11 documentation to formalize debt-repayment schedules.
Finalizing Asset Acquisitions: Investment managers will complete contract terms to acquire tour intellectual property and media rights.
How Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads
For its first CTV campaign, Jennifer Aniston’s DTC haircare brand LolaVie had a few non-negotiables. The campaign had to be simple. It had to demonstrate measurable impact. And it had to be full-funnel.
LolaVie used Roku Ads Manager to test and optimize creatives — reaching millions of potential customers at all stages of their purchase journeys. Roku Ads Manager helped the brand convey LolaVie’s playful voice while helping drive omnichannel sales across both ecommerce and retail touchpoints.
The campaign included an Action Ad overlay that let viewers shop directly from their TVs by clicking OK on their Roku remote. This guided them to the website to buy LolaVie products.
Discover how Roku Ads Manager helped LolaVie drive big sales and customer growth with self-serve TV ads.
The DTC beauty category is crowded. To break through, Jennifer Aniston’s brand LolaVie, worked with Roku Ads Manager to easily set up, test, and optimize CTV ad creatives. The campaign helped drive a big lift in sales and customer growth, helping LolaVie break through in the crowded beauty category.
HUMAIN and Applied Intuition Partner to Deploy Driverless Trucking Fleets Across Saudi Arabia
🔹 What Is It About
Saudi AI firm HUMAIN announced a strategic partnership with US-based physical AI developer Applied Intuition during LEAP 2026 in Riyadh. Led by Chief Executive Officer Tareq Amin, HUMAIN aims to deploy autonomous trucks across Saudi commercial freight corridors by 2030 before expanding into robotaxis and port operations. Valued at $15 billion, Applied Intuition opened a regional office in Riyadh to build local engineering teams and support software integration.
🔹 Why It Matters
Deploying autonomous freight fleets across key transport corridors lowers logistics costs and increases cargo capacity for industrial supply chains. Partnering with international technology providers accelerates Saudi Arabia's transition toward automated infrastructure under Vision 2030 targets. Establishing local engineering offices in Riyadh transfers technical expertise to domestic software developers, supporting the growth of the regional technology ecosystem.
🔹 What’s Next
Engineering teams from HUMAIN and Applied Intuition will initiate road testing on designated freight highways to calibrate autonomous navigation software. Regulatory authorities will establish safety guidelines and operational frameworks for commercial driverless vehicles.
Mapping Highway Corridors: Software engineers will gather spatial data along major commercial routes connecting industrial cities.
Qatar Event Show 2026 Convenes MICE Industry Leaders in Doha
🔹 What Is It About
In Doha, Mangusteen is making final preparations for the Qatar Event Show 2026, which runs from 1 to 3 September at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Center (DECC). The 3-day exhibition gathers more than 5,000 professional delegates and 50 exhibiting brands to showcase digital event management tools, staging technologies, and venue logistics.
Designed to strengthen Qatar’s position as a regional hub for business tourism and international conventions, the event brings together industry professionals, buyers, and government stakeholders. Registration remains open, and attendees can claim a complimentary visitor pass through the Qatar Event Show Registration Portal.
👨‍💻From Smashi Business’ Desk
Huda Kattan and Dubai’s DIME burger teamed up to launch the “Huda Meal”
Dubai's Original Ravi Restaurant has Distanced Itself From Other "Ravi" Eateries
A commercial tanker was struck by an unknown projectile in the Red Sea, 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
Dubai-born premium activewear brand SQUATWOLF has officially entered the Saudi Arabian retail market
Ryanair had something to say about Emirates’ new headrests… and the internet was ready
🔍In other news…
Iran, Oman hammer out Hormuz revenue-sharing deal
War cuts Dubai airport passenger traffic by nearly a third
Kuwait and Qatar Add to Growing Oil Flows Getting Through Hormuz
Trump sends Saudi nuclear deal to Congress but says again that Riyadh must recognize Israel
Famous London bakery fires warning shot at Saudi copycat
Bahrain’s economy contracts after Iran war hits oil output
Builder.ai Founder Sachin Dev Duggal Starts Dubai-Based SeKondBrain After Unicorn’s Collapse
UAE grants Elon Musk's Starlink licence to provide satellite internet services
Saudi Arabia Replaces CEO of Riyadh’s Flagship New Murabba Megaproject: FT
🦄 World of Startups
ChatFeatured, Canada-based AI startup, raised $2M in a pre-seed funding round from BY Venture Partners (UAE/Lebanon) and other global investors
Doctorbook, Syria-based healthtech platform, raised $16K in a pre-seed funding round from a group of angel investors, valuing the startup at $200K
Carbar, Australia-based car subscription platform, is merging with Carasti, UAE-based car subscription business operating across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Singapore, at a combined pre-raise valuation of $74M
Fincart, Egypt-based eCommerce enablement platform, raised $2.8M in a seed funding round
